UPSC Notes

Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP)

PYQs

19

Articles

4

Momentum

46

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Crucial for understanding India's energy security strategy, agricultural policy, farmer welfare, and environmental sustainability goals. It involves inter-sectoral linkages between agriculture, energy, and environment.

The Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) is a key government initiative in India aimed at blending ethanol with petrol to reduce the country's reliance on crude oil imports, enhance energy security, and provide an alternative market for agricultural produce.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Primary Objectives

Reduce crude oil import bill, achieve energy security, reduce carbon emissions, support farmers' income.

Feedstocks

Primarily sugarcane molasses/juice, but also broken rice, maize, and other starch-based materials.

Production Process

Ethanol is produced through established industrial processes involving fermentation of sugars/starch, not direct mixing of raw agricultural produce.

Quality & Safety

Ethanol used for blending conforms to stringent quality specifications, and modern vehicles are designed with safeguards against water entry into fuel tanks.

Objectives

Aims to reduce crude oil imports, enhance energy security, and promote cleaner fuels.

Grain Dominance

Grain-based feedstocks currently contribute a larger share (68%) to ethanol supply for blending compared to sugarcane-based (32%).

Policy Implications

Has implications for agricultural diversification, farmer income, and the food vs. fuel debate.

Target

Achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol (E20) by 2025.

Reference table

Ethanol Feedstock for Blending (Nov 2025 - July 2026)

Feedstock Type	Volume (crore litres)	Percentage
Sugarcane-based (Total)	259.24	32%
- Direct Juice/Syrup	147.6
- B-heavy molasses	98.19
- C-heavy molasses	13.45
Grain-based (Total)	551.43	68%
- Maize	288
- FCI rice	207.1
- Broken/damaged foodgrains	56.33
Total	810.67	100%

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Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 19 linked questions on Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQs Evaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP)

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. This init...

2016·Social Issues & Schemes

Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct ? 1. It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined...

2026·Environment & Ecology

In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport, consider the following statements : 1. The mai...

2019·Environment & Ecology

With reference to the usefulness of the by-products of the sugar industry, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Bagasse can be used as biomas...

2013·Science & Technology

Consider the following statements about 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana': I. It targets installation of one crore solar rooftop panels in the residential s...

2025·Social Issues & Schemes

With reference to green hydrogen, Consider the following statements : 1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion. 2. It can be blended w...

2023·Environment & Ecology

Which one of the following is the exhaust pipe emission from Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, powered by hydrogen?

2024·Science & Technology

Consider the following statements: 1. Maize can be used for the production of starch. 2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel. 3. Alcoh...

2014·Environment & Ecology

With reference to Direct Air Capture, an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct? I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequest...

2025·Environment & Ecology

Consider the following heavy industries : 1. Fertilizer plants 2. Oil refineries 3. Steel plants Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role i...

2023·Environment & Ecology

Consider the following statements: Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former p...

With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a Public Limited...

2015·Environment & Ecology

Consider the following infrastructure sectors: 1. Affordable housing 2. Mass rapid transport 3. Health care 4. Renewable energy On how many of the above do...

2023·International Relations

Which one of the following is the correct description of "100 Million Farmers"?

2024·Social Issues & Schemes

In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? 1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crop...

Consider the following statements: 1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree. 2. Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia. 3. In India, most ...

2021·Geography

Consider the following statements 1. The quantity of imported edible oils is more than the domestic production of edible oils in the last five years. 2. The ...

According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? 1. Cassava 2. Damaged ...

2020·Environment & Ecology

It is possible to produce algae-based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry? 1. Production o...

2017·Science & Technology

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